Brandon Andrews, spokesman for Insight America and a former staffer to Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., said that while the organization is being run by a former Republican and the event is being held at a conservative think tank, it seeks to improve diversity in a bipartisan manner on Capitol Hill.

“Because of who the founder and chairman is, we are definitely going to be working more on the right side [of Capitol Hill], and that’s where we will have more influence,” Andrews said. “But we will be here to support all the staff associations in whatever way that we can, because we want to see
diversity improved on the Hill more generally.”

Andrews added that the timing of the organization’s launch — with Republicans seeking to rebrand their image after a bruising election season — is just coincidence. He said Watts got the ball rolling on the organization three years ago and now has the money and support to make the organization a reality.

“This is about addressing the issue of diversity on the Hill and ensuring the product that comes out of Congress is as good as it can be,” Andrews said.